Well At The End Of The Day It's Just A Job.

Yesterday I went to a funeral. It was a funeral with a difference, for I was in my bedroom at the time. I’d been to work and while I was at work, I’d put in the user name and password that I was given so that I would be able to watch it on line. I’d tried it out to make sure it worked, as we were encouraged to and what picture we would see if we had done it right. We were informed, the stream would become live ten minutes before the funeral would start.

To be on the safe side, I set up the live stream on my tablet and laptop just in case one was to fail me, by losing connection, even though we were informed, “It will be on YouTube in a few weeks.”  

So, ten minutes before, the funeral was due to start I logged in and the view of the front of the Crematorium I could see where the coffin would be.

Then I heard distant voices and saw Men set up a microphone and a classic guitar was placed on a stand.

The coffin came in and was placed on the large stage there was a large bunch of flowers in a beautiful diamond shape was on top of the coffin and a flowers in the shape of a teddy at the front of the coffin, in the camera’s view I could see two young people.

The young man wiped his eyes with his hankie and blew he nose and wiped his face. I felt like I was intruding as only two of them were in my view, he and the young lady with him. He got up and went to the front and spoke for a few minutes. It was moving.

Sandra Olive Smith, her Brother Malachi then spoke next, fondly of his Sister. He didn’t cry, he then got his guitar and sang a song that Sandra had written many years ago.

Then Malachi asked us all to join in and say, “The Lord’s Prayer together.” Sandra’s Pastor, who had also said a few words, after there was a short closing prayer.

Then the dreaded time came and the thick curtains clothes together and covered Sandra so she was hidden from our sight. While Sandra was still there, behind the curtain, her Pastor saluted her and blew her a kiss. That was lovely. When he walked back to his seat, The funeral Man, then stood in front of the closed curtains and in deep respect bowed his head.

Then the six family members left by a different door, so we, for the first time could see all who had been there in person. The funeral Man then came and took the two floral items that was on top of the coffin from behind the curtain.

Then the coffin Man and another coffin Lady both dressed in black, with disposable gloves on sprayed, the pulpit and seats at the front and immediately as he cleaned, he was laughing! It was so odd! But at the end of the day, its just a job, and he had done his job very well. Did they forget the cameras was still rolling? Clearly yes, for I could hear he mention, “The Preacher Man said…..” But I couldn’t hear what he was saying, about the Preacher Man. I did wonder how many of us hundreds of people were still watching the scene. The Funeral Lady said, “I’ve now gained an extra ten minutes,” That’s always good, I thought.

Then they took their positions, ready for the next funeral, the coffin came in first and was put onto the stage, it had a smaller floral bunch on top, then a man came in with a little dog on a lead and sat on the front row! And at that moment the live stream ended.

From beginning to end it was forty minutes. I thought about her life well lived and now she was all alone. No one to look at the floral tributes or take a photo of it, or to meet up for refreshments to reminisce her amazing life. I dried my eyes and went back downstairs. Later on, there will be a memorial service in her honour.

S.O.S. RIP xXx